At this time, a series of key fruits such as dragon fruit, mango, etc., are entering their peak harvest season and are facing the problem of low selling prices and difficult market access.

Mango, Jackfruit, Dragon Fruit Prices Decline

Currently, the country is entering the peak harvest season for various fruits, leading to price reductions for some types. In Binh Thuan, not only mango and jackfruit are experiencing low prices, but off-season dragon fruit at the farm is being sold for only 4,000 - 8,000 VND/kg, depending on the type. Specifically, bulk purchase prices at the farm are only 4,000 VND/kg, while selected fruits meeting export standards range from 7,000 - 8,000 VND/kg.

Due to the off-season nature of dragon fruit, costs for lighting, fertilizers, etc., lead to production costs of 7,000 - 8,000 VND/kg for farmers to break even. With current selling prices, farmers are facing losses.

According to dragon fruit traders in Binh Thuan, the price of this fruit has been rapidly declining over the past month. If in April 2025, the export price of this fruit was over 10,000 VND/kg, now it is only being purchased at 4,000 VND/kg (bulk purchase). Currently, grade 4 dragon fruit is only being purchased at 1,000 - 2,000 VND/kg. In many orchards, traders are cutting off this type due to insufficient transportation costs.

Not only dragon fruit, but the price of Thai jackfruit in the Mekong Delta has also plummeted. Currently, grade 1 jackfruit is only 4,000 - 10,000 VND/kg, down more than half compared to a month ago. This situation is also occurring with Australian mangoes in Cam Lam district, Khanh Hoa province. If last year, high-quality Australian mangoes could be sold for 30,000 VND/kg, now traders are only offering 3,000 - 8,000 VND/kg, or even not coming to purchase.

Speaking with reporters from the Industry and Trade Newspaper, Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen - General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association - stated that the rapid decline in dragon fruit prices is due to the current peak harvest season for main crops. Additionally, countries importing dragon fruit, such as China, have also actively produced significant quantities, affecting purchase prices.

For jackfruit and bananas, Vietnam's largest consumer market, China, is also entering its harvest season, leading to a significant decrease in import demand. Moreover, Vietnamese bananas have to compete with bananas from Laos and Cambodia.

High-Quality Produce Maintains Good Prices

Despite the general situation, many types of fruits with guaranteed high quality still maintain good selling prices.

Speaking with reporters from the Industry and Trade Newspaper, Mr. Tran Dinh Trung - Director of Thuan Tien Dragon Fruit Cooperative - stated that thanks to the application of scientific and technological advances in production, cooperative members have met export standards for dragon fruit to markets such as the EU, US, Australia, China, etc., so the current selling price of dragon fruit for cooperative members remains commonly at 21,000 - 23,500 VND/kg. The cooperative has also signed consumption contracts with partners for 1-3 years, so as long as farmers cultivate according to standards, there is no concern about market access or selling prices.

Similarly, at Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh's 5-hectare dragon fruit orchard in Ham Duc commune, Ham Thuan Bac district, cultivated according to GlobalGAP standards, meeting strict inspection requirements with over 900 active ingredients required by importers. Therefore, the selling price remains stable at 24,000 - 26,000 VND/kg. Each month, the orchard regularly harvests nearly 20 tons and sells to enterprises in Ho Chi Minh City for export to demanding markets.

Summer is the season for fruit products, and in the context of many fruits entering the harvest season simultaneously, it is easy to lead to the situation of a good harvest but falling prices. Regarding this issue, speaking with reporters from the Industry and Trade Newspaper, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy stated that the Ministry will strengthen forecasting capabilities, guiding enterprises and farmers to organize production according to market signals, avoiding supply-demand imbalances, especially during the peak harvest season.

In addition, the Ministry has also directed localities to support enterprises in expanding processing facilities, storage facilities, and temporary storage warehouses so that during peak harvest seasons, enterprises can enhance temporary storage, thereby enabling exports over an extended period. This reduces the pressure on consumption when fruits enter the peak harvest season.

At the same time, expanding and diversifying export markets is also crucial. Therefore, through negotiations, removing technical barriers, promoting trade, and expanding new markets with good potential for Vietnamese agricultural products such as South America, Africa, the Middle East, etc., alongside traditional markets like China, the United States, the EU, and Japan. This way, Vietnamese agricultural products will reduce risks in case of fluctuations or obstacles in any particular market.

In response to the sharp decline in agricultural product prices, many localities have proactively taken action. However, according to experts, the core issue is to establish a sustainable value chain. Along with that, promoting deep processing is also an important solution; this not only increases product value but also reduces consumption pressure during the peak harvest season for agricultural products and fruits.

Source: Bao Cong Thuong